The Effects of <i>in ovo</i> Administration of Glutamine on Hatchability, Subsequent Performance, Digestive Enzyme Activities, Immune Response and some of Blood Parameter in Broiler Chickens

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of <em>in ovo</em> feeding (IOF) of glutamine (Gln) on hatching traits, growth performance, digestive enzyme activities, immune response and some of blood parameters in broiler chickens. For this study, 2100 eggs were obtained from 43-wk-old hens. L-glutamine (10, 20, 30, 40 or 50 mg dissolved in 0.5 mL of deionized water) was injected into the albumen on the 14^th day of incubation. Hatchability, growth performance, digestive enzyme activities (amylase and lipase<strong>)</strong>, immune response and blood parameters (glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), total protein, alkaline phosphatase (ALP)) were determined during this experiment. Weight of newly-hatched chicks was significantly greater in groups with Gln injection than in control and sham groups. But IOF caused lower hatchability (13.1% than in the control group (not-injection eggs) (p < em><0.05). Chickens from IOF of Gln showed better weight gain and feed conversion ratio (0-42 day of age) when compared to chicks hatched from the control and sham group. The IOF of the Gln significantly increased glucose concentration, number of the lymphocytes and heterophil and the weight of spleen and bursa of fabricius in newly hatched chicks. In addition, immunoglobulins G and M were also markedly increased in chickens treated <em>in ovo</em> with 20, 30, 40 and 50 mg of Gln at 26 days of age. It was concluded that the IOF of the Gln in all doses improved the immune response of broilers and the growth performance of broilers.